Greetings!



We are wrapping up our 6th week of school already and everything seems to be off to a great start! I attended the district-wide College and Career Night this past Monday held at Golden Gate High School. It was an incredible turnout by our families! Click here for the list of post-secondary institutions who attended the event. Here is a summary of what has been going on at the school board:

• Ave Maria Elementary is under construction, so if you want to keep up with the progress, visit their new website here. For those of you who know me and my love for cardinals, I was so excited to learn that their mascot will be the cardinals!!

• The Superintendent's contract was renewed after thorough board discussion. Her current contract is in place through June 2026. Currently, the board's counsel (with board input) is negotiating the terms of an updated contract with the Superintendent's counsel. This new contract will come back for a final review at an upcoming board meeting.

• The Board reviewed the updated measures from the strategic plan. Staff presented at the September board meeting. I really appreciate the hard work done by staff on revamping and streamlining this plan, which also supports the Board priorities.

• The Budget Hearing included an informative staff presentation. Following board discussion and public input, the board unanimously approved the millage and FY26 budget.

• Due to various statutory changes, the board conducted a policy work session to conduct a first-read on numerous policies. Board members had the opportunity to ask staff and/or their board attorney questions in preparation for the work session. These policies will come back at the October meeting for a second read and final approval.

I look forward to another fantastic year around the school district! We are constantly striving to improve in all areas, and I appreciate the team effort and the ability to work together to problem solve. Ultimately, if we keep our students at the forefront of all decision-making, we will continue to work our way towards becoming the #1 school district in the state of Florida!

With gratitude,

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Golden Gate Titans vs. Gulf Coast Sharks

Both of these schools are in my district, so it was great to watch this matchup! If you get an opportunity, head to your nearest high school and check out a game. You will also see the talented marching bands, flag lines, and the cheerleading teams! Tickets can be purchased in advance on GoFan.

Despite what some individuals are saying to the media, truth matters. I will also add that it speaks volumes about someone's character if they purposefully mislead for their own personal gain. I hope this fact sheet dispels any myths or flat out lies.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

October 8, 2025 at 9:00am: Regular School Board Meeting (School Board Meeting Room)

October 15, 2025 at 4:30pm: Legislative Work Session (School Board Meeting Room)

In Case You Missed It

If you couldn't make it to a meeting and/or missed the live stream, you can view the meetings here in their entirety or watch a brief meeting recap by our Chief Communication Officer, Chad Oliver.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions in these communications do not reflect the thoughts and opinions of the Collier County School Board or District. These are the thoughts and opinions of Kelly Mason.